Good news for renters! Evictions and rental hikes are banned until December as tenants struggle amid Victoria's draconian Stage 4 lockdown
- The Victorian government has extended its ban on evictions and rental hikes
- Announcement came as Victoria reported 240 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday
- The ban will continue through to December 31 amid second wave of infections
The Victorian government has extended its ban on evictions and rental hikes until the end of the year as Melbourne continues to struggle through Stage 4 lockdown.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the extension as the state recorded 240 new coronavirus infections and 13 deaths on Thursday.
'Just as JobKeeper has been extended by the Commonwealth government... We are today announcing the extension and the refinement of those important protections, both for families and individuals who are renting,' he said.
The Victorian government has extended its ban on evictions and rental hikes until the end of the year
Treasurer Tim Pallas said rental hikes as well as evictions for residential and commercial tenants would continue to be banned until December 31.
'Nobody should be worried about losing a roof over their head right now,' he said.
'Everyone in these difficult times needs to pull together.'
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The laws were introduced in late March and were to end on September 29.
Mr Pallas said the extension was about striking the 'right balance' and ensuring tenants are given adequate safeguards during the pandemic.
Almost 26,000 arrangements for reduced rent have been registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria in the last four months, Mr Pallas said.
Two people walk through the rain in Melbourne during Stage 4 lockdown on Tuesday
The Victorian Small Business Commissions has also answered about 8,000 rent-related inquiries.
Mr Pallas also announced there would be more support for residential and commercial landlords, including further land tax reductions and more grant funding.
Landlords that provide outright rent waivers of at least 50 per cent of rent payable for at least three months will be eligible for an additional 25 per cent land tax relief.
The Victorian government is also setting up a $60million fund for eligible small commercial landlords that will provide up to $3,000 per tenancy.
Support advocacy groups like VCOSS and Tenants Victoria will also receive funding through a new $600,000 investment package.
'And we're encouraging banks, of course, to continue to do the right thing by their customers to ensure that everybody gets the best opportunity to make it through to the other side of this event,' Mr Pallas said.
'So to get through this together, all of us - tenants, landlords, businesses, governments, banks - we need to work together.'
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